Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Transport when the EC regulation 1371/2007 on rail passenger rights which has to be transposed by the end of 2009 will be transposed into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17967/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Regulation 1371/2007 comes into force on 3 December 2009 and will be binding from that date. The body to be appointed under Article 30 of Regulation 1371/2007, which will be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Regulation, is under consideration. A statutory instrument may be required to give effect to this designation.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has decided which authority will be responsible for enforcement of EC regulation 1371/2007 when it is transposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17968/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Regulation 1371/2007 provides for increased rights for rail passengers. This regulation will come into force on 3 December 2009. The body to be appointed under Article 30 of Regulation 1371/2007, which will be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Regulation, is under consideration.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Transport his position in relation to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17969/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The European Commission has produced a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport. The proposal covers the liability of bus and/or coach undertakings, rules on non-discrimination and mandatory assistance for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility. The proposal also sets out obligations of bus and/or coach undertakings in the event of interrupted travel, as well as appropriate rules governing complaint handling and enforcement.

The first discussions on this proposal commenced in April 2009 at the EU Council Transport Working Group and there will be further discussions over the coming months. In meantime the text of the proposal has been sent to stakeholders for consultation and I am currently awaiting their responses, which will inform our position in relation to the negotiation of this draft Regulation.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason he has not designated an enforcement authority for the new EC regulation on price transparency in air travel, which came into force on 1 November 2008; if he will commit to designating an enforcement authority in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17970/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Regulation (EC) No. 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community came into force on the 1st November 2008. This Regulation is directly applicable in all Member States. On 31 October 2008, I made Statutory Instrument No. 426 of 2008, to give effect to Regulation (EC) No. 1008/2008 and to lay down offences and penalties for non-compliance with Article 23 of the Regulation, relating to pricing transparency.

As I have indicated in response to previous question on this matter, I have agreed with my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment that in principle the enforcement of such provisions is more appropriate to the National Consumer Agency (NCA) given its broader remit in the area of consumer protection. Discussions between both Departments and the NCA are underway to progress this.